With only two days to go until the 10th anniversary of the UKâ€™s only true outdoor Heavy Metal Festival, BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR is full steam ahead with preparations. First of all, some last minute changes to the line-up.

We have just received news that BEHEMOTH frontman NERGAL was rushed to hospital, and as a result has been forced to cancel scheduled BEHEMOTH shows, including BLOODSTOCK. Our thoughts and best wishes go out to NERGAL and his family, and we wish him a speedy recovery.

Taking their place will be English doom legends CATHEDRAL, who make their BLOODSTOCK debut with this last minute confirmation. Says frontman LEE DORIAN:

Sadly OCTOBER FILE have also had to cancel their performance due to vocalist Ben Hollyer exacerbating his current stomach injury at their recent Sonisphere festival set. Explains Ben:

â€œUnfortunately I have had to pull out of performing at BOA this year and our first year too! I am absolutely gutted that we can't be there. A recent injury involving my abdominal muscles tearing down the middle has made performing not possible. Have a good BOA!!â€

Stepping up at the 11th hour to replace them are rising folk flavoured black metallers and current ZERO TOLERANCE MAGAZINE coverstars WINTERFYLLETH. Vocalist/guitarist Chris Naughton states:

"Winterfylleth are truly humbled to be asked to play at one of the finest metal festivals going on within our fair shores. It is a privilege for us as existing fans of the festival to now be considered amongst some of the great bands that are playing at the festival this year. We are looking forward to standing alongside acts like Gorgoroth, Behemoth and many others, bringing our brand of English inspired Black Metal to such a discerning and committed festival following. We look forward to seeing you there. Hail Bloodstock".

With the line up in place, all thatâ€™s left now is to plan your weekend. The running order for this yearâ€™s BOA are as follows:

Thursday 12th August
SOPHIE LANCASTER STAGE4 DJâ€™S OF THE APOCALYPSE
COMEDY HOUR
HOSPITAL OF DEATH
DESECRATION
METAL KARAOKE
4 DJâ€™S OF THE APOCALYPSE

SUCK THE MOVIE
4 DJâ€™S OF THE APOCALYPSE
PURIFIED IN BLOOD
THE PROPHECY
WITCHSORROW
WINTERFYLLETH
METAL KARAOKE
4 DJâ€™S OF THE APOCALYPSE

JAGERMISTER STAGE ACOUSTIC JAMMING SESSIONS â€“ UN PLUGGED

TIMES AND BANDS TO BE ANNOUNCED OVER THE WEEKEND

This yearâ€™s BLOODSTOCK offers some of the top names in metal - many of whom you wonâ€™t see at any other festival this summer - as well as a host of unsigned talent who have battled their way to the unsigned stage. However BLOODSTOCK is not just about some of the most exciting performances in metal - thereâ€™s a whole host of entertainment and activities on offer to make this the best weekend in the metal calendar.

Thursday night is party night, with Freddy vs Jason as the theme. Prizes will be offered to the best looking monsters on site!

The bands performing will be taking time out to meet the fans, courtesy of the official METAL HAMMER signing tent - look out for signing times posted outside for your chance to meet the stars!

Thereâ€™s also a host of fairground attractions, including dodgems and white knuckle rides. Unlike most festivals, BLOODSTOCK will also have a pub on site offering REAL ALE. The BLOODSTOCK ARMS will be open all weekend to provide refreshing, reasonably priced HOBGOBLIN ales to quench the thirst of the metal masses. Whatâ€™s more - for the real ale connoisseurs - the VIP bar will boast no less than 30 different ales on offer, upgrades for which are still available.

Of course, it would not be BLOODSTOCK without the renowned METAL KARAOKE. Part of what makes BLOODSTOCK so special, the FOUR DJS OF THE APOCALYPSE host the ultimate party in the SOPHIE LANCASTER stage once all the bands have finished, giving YOU the chance to be the star with a menu of mighty metal classics to sing along to. The fierce foursome will also be hosting a metal disco, giving you a chance to rest your vocal chords and headbang along to old and new favourites.

This year, BLOODSTOCK also has a very special raffle, as a way of saying thanks to the fans for their 10 years of support. All BLOODSTOCK ticket holders will be automatically given the chance to win a beast of a prize - as heavy as it is metal. A brand new TOYOTA AYGO 1.0 VVT-I - crammed full of goodies including music, merchandise, a Black BC RICH WARBEAST GUITAR, and a plethora of other mouth-watering prizes, will be given to one lucky winner at the end of the hottest weekend in the metal calendar. Whatâ€™s more, one runner-up will receive a BC RICH Guitar, 2 x VIP Weekend Tickets to BOA 2011 plus a goody bag full of Bloodstock and band merchandise.